Trace-fastener.



No. 885,962. PATENTED NOV. 13, 1906.

L. L. LENT.

TRACE FASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED 1330.16. 1905.

Q I Q Giro (mug THE NORRIS PETERS ca, wAsnma'roN, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TRACE-FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent. I

Patented Nov. 13, 1906.

Application filed December 16,1905. Serial No. 292,048.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Lewis L. LENT, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Suspension Bridge, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Trace-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to trace-fasteners or whifiietree-hooks, and is designed to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient construction of fastening for holding the trace securely connected with the end of the whiflletree and preventing accidental detachment thereof.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of one of the ends of a whiffletree provided with my invention, the end of a trace being shown in dotted lines and held in connected position by the fastener. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the latch swung open. Fig. 3 is an end elevation showing the trace held connected with the whiflietree by the fastener. Fig. 4 is a rear end elevation of the whifiietreaand a vertical section through the trace and parts of the fastener. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the latch.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates one of the ends of a whiffletree, on which is the usual ferrule 2 and which carries a trace-holding shank or stem 3, terminating at its outer end in a retaining crosspiece or lug 4.

The fastener comprises a substantially L or elbow shaped latch 5, the main arm 6 of which is formed with an aperture 7 and a laterally-projecting trace-engaging extension 8 and is provided with a downwardly-projecting portion 9, having a free forward extension 10, formed with an opening 11, registering with the opening 7 in the said main arm, the apertured portion of the main arm and part 10 forming ears arranged one above the other to embrace the lug or cross-piece 4, which is apertured for the passage of a pivot pin or rivet 12, which extends through the openings in the ears, and thus pivotally connects the latch with the lug or cross-piece. The other arm 13 of the latch terminates in a laterally and forwardly extending abutting head or portion 14, extending parallel with the arm 6 and adapted to abut against the rear side of the ferrule 1 when the latch is in closed position.

Fig. 2 shows the latch swung open, from which it will be seen that the trace-engaging member 8 extends parallel with the crosspiece 4. The slitted end of the trace is slipped in the operation of applying the trace over the head 14 and along the body of the latch and then over the cross-piece 4 and member 5 onto the shank or stem 3, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. As the trace passes over the cross-piece 4 the member 8 is engaged by the rear end of the trace and moved inwardly and forwardly therewith, so that when the trace engages the shank 3 the member 8 will be swung to a position parallel with said shank and the latch moved to closed position, as shown in Fig. 1. Hence the pull of the draftanimals upon the trace will be sustained both by the shank 3 and member 8, and the latch will thereby be held in closed position to prevent accidental disconnection of the trace. As the head 14 bears upon the whiffletree, it will be seen that a portion of the pull of the trace will be communicated to the whiffletree, thus relieving the latch from overstrain. The peculiar construction of the body of the latch and formation of the head 14 provides in the latch-bodya recess 15 to receive and accommodate the rear end of the trace, thus preventing the play of the latter from affecting or being transmitted to the latch.

It will be seen that the fastening is simple in construction, may be inexpensively produced, and will effectually prevent accidental disengagement of the trace. The mode of discodnnecting the trace will be clearly understoo Having thus described the invention, what i is claimed as new is 1. A whiffletree provided with a trace-receiving hook, and an elbow-latch pivoted thereto, one of the arms of the latch being provided with an extension to be engaged by the trace when the latter is applied to the hook and upon which the pull of the trace is exerted to hold the latch in closed position and the other arm of the latch having a head to bear upon the whifiletree.

2. A trace-holding latch for whiffletrees comprising an elbow-shaped member having one of its arms provided with a trace-engag-' ing member and its other arm with an abutting head to bear against the whiffletree.

3. A trace-fastening comprising a hook, and a latch pivotally connected with the hook and having a trace-engaging and a whiffietree-abutting portions, said trace-engaging portion adapted to be acted upon by the trace to swing the latch to closed and open I the rear of the first-named arm and extendpositions when the trace is applied and reing inwardly therefrom and having at its free moved. end a head to abut against the whifiletree 4. A whifi letree provided with a trace-rewhen the latch is in closed position. ceiving hook, and an elbow-latch pivoted In testimony whereof I afiix my signature 15 thereto at the forward end of one of the arms in presence of two witnesses.

thereof, the end of said arm being provided LEDUS L. LENT. with an extension for engagement by the Witnesses: trace when the latter is applied to the hook, WM. E. BURLEsoN,

10" the other arm of the latch being arranged at WM. H. MOCONNELL. 

